0437/2021

Summary title: Petition No 0437/2021 by Luca Gentile (Belgian) on increasing speed limits for electric bicycles (e-bikes)

Petition number: 0437/2021

Topics: Energy,  Transport,  Urban Development,  Environment,  Security

Country: European Union,  Finland,  Belgium,  Italy

Name: Luca Gentile

The petitioner proposes raising the speed limits for electric bikes to 32 km/h, permitting engine power of at least 500 kW and simplifying administrative formalities for those who have an e-bike that does not meet the current pedelec parameters, in order to obtain affordable insurance and easy registration.To plead his case, he points out that a non-electric sports bicycle can already reach 40 km/h and that, therefore, keeping the current limits actually discriminates against a large proportion of e-bikers. Since there is a great difference in speed between an electric bicycle and a car, this does not encourage people to buy an e-bike, and therefore the number of deaths from car accidents will not decrease. The petitioner then goes on to highlight the positive impact the increase in the number of e-bikes is having on the environment and on urban public transport and, lastly, calls for infrastructure to be put in place to enable people to make better use of e-bikes.